Speaker Carl Heastie today announced the appointment of Assemblymember Fred W. Thiele, Jr. to chair the Small Business Committee and Assemblymember David I. Weprin to serve as Secretary to the Assembly Majority Conference.

"I have a great deal of confidence in the leadership abilities of both Fred Thiele and David I. Weprin," said Heastie. "Fred and David are respected public servants. They are known among their Assembly colleagues for their longstanding commitment to the legislative priorities of our house and for serving the people of this state."

"I am honored to be the Speaker's choice to chair the Assembly's Small Business Committee. Small businesses are the number one employer in the state and they are very important to the success of our economy. I am prepared to give these businesses the attention and support they need," said Thiele.

"Thank you Speaker Heastie for this appointment. As the new secretary to the Assembly Majority Conference, I Iook forward to working with the Speaker and my colleagues to advance our legislative priorities, which include providing the people of this state with opportunities for better health care, education and housing," said Weprin.

Assemblymember Thiele (1st A.D.), a lifetime resident of Sag Harbor, has served in many leadership roles at the local government level, including as the supervisor of the Town of Southhampton, the Suffolk County Legislature and town attorney. Thiele attended Cornell University and is a graduate of Southhampton College of Long Island University and Albany Law School.

Assemblymember Weprin (24th A.D.) has extensive government experience. It includes an appointment by former Governor Mario Cuomo to serve as Deputy Superintendent of Banks and Secretary of the Banking Board as well as eight years as a member of the New York City Council where he was chosen by his colleagues to chair the Finance Committee. Weprin is a graduate of SUNY Albany and earned a law degree from Hofstra University. He was elected to the Assembly from the same district in Queens that also was represented by his late father, former Speaker Saul Weprin, and brother, Mark Weprin.